Bearded vulture

The bearded vulture, or lammergeier, is a large Old World vulture that feeds chiefly on bones and marrow.

Osteophagy: The consumption of bones as a significant part of an animal’s diet. The bearded vulture is the clearest living example of this feeding strategy.
Bearded vulture reintroduction in the Alps: A program begun in 1986 to restore bearded vultures to the Alpine region through captive breeding and release. It reversed the bird’s regional disappearance through coordinated releases.
Gypaetus barbatus: The scientific name of the bearded vulture, a species in the family Accipitridae. This name identifies the species across its broad range.
Carrion: The decaying flesh of dead animals, consumed by scavengers. Bearded vultures use carcasses as sources of bones after other scavengers feed.
Bone marrow: The soft tissue inside bones, rich in fat and blood-forming cells. Marrow supplies much of the energy obtained from the bones it eats.
Vulture restaurant: A managed feeding site where carrion is provided to vultures and other scavengers. Supplementary food can support bearded vultures where wild carcasses are scarce.
Old World vulture: A vulture in the family Accipitridae, native to Africa, Asia, or Europe. The bearded vulture belongs to this group, distinct from New World vultures.
Scavenger: An animal that consumes dead organisms or their remains. The species occupies a specialized scavenger role in mountain ecosystems.
Gastric acid: Acidic fluid produced in the stomach that helps digest food and kill microbes. Strong stomach acidity helps the bird digest bone material.
Supplementary feeding: The provision of food by people to supplement animals’ natural diets. Conservation programs use it to support released or threatened birds.

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